1138 Reptiles. 



J. H. Gurney. It proved, on dissection, to be a male ; and from the imperfect deve- 

 lopment of the bony filaments which cross the apertures in the organ of voice, sup- 

 porting the membrane which covers them, was probably only a bird of the last or the 

 preceding year. — William R. Fisher; 13, Graxfs Inn Square, August 1, 1845. 



Domesticated Herring Gulls breeding in a garden. A female herring-gull has for 

 many years inhabited a piece of water in my father's garden. She has long been a 

 favourite from her familiarity and her amusing habits. In the spring she was always 

 very clamorous, and usually attached herself to any odd bird there might happen to 

 be among the other water-fowl, seldom quitting its side. She would often be seen 

 attempting to make a nest, collecting dried tufts of grass &c, and placing them around 

 her. In the autumn of 1841, a pair of young gulls, then in immature plumage, were 

 placed in the pond ; our old friend readily acknowledged her congeners, and in the 

 following spring it was observed that the female of the young pair was driven off by 

 the others. These soon proceeded to the construction of a nest : this was found in 

 the stump of an old lilac-bush, and was composed of dead leaves. The female laid 

 three eggs; one young one was hatched, but disappeared the next day. The follow- 

 ing year they again built in the same spot, and two young were hatched ; one died 

 almost immediately, but the other lived four or five days, and died, apparently from 

 the want of a supply of proper food. This spring, however, we have been more suc- 

 cessful. The gulls resorted to their old breeding-quarters, and in the same nest laid 

 three eggs, of which one only was hatched. Much pains was bestowed in keeping up 

 a constant supply of fish, shrimps, crabs &c. for the parent birds. It was difficult, 

 from their retired and watchful habits, to ascertain in what manner they conveyed 

 food to their nestling ; and the gardener, who had the care of them, fed it at first him- 

 self, by putting small pieces of their food into its beak, but this was not long necessary, 

 for it was soon observed that the parent bird fed the young with food previously swal- 

 lowed, after the manner of pigeons. It was interesting to observe the watchful care of 

 the old gulls ; the utterance of their wild cry made known immediately when any one 

 was approaching their nest, and they would both fly at the intruder with determined 

 boldness. The young bird did not remain many clays in the nest, but concealed itself 

 under some brush-wood near, with the female usually at its side. As it grew older, 

 they gradually changed their locality, bringing it round the whole circuit of the pond, 

 always keeping it very much concealed, avoiding taking it into the water, except on 

 one occasion, when they were observed trying to decoy it across to an island ; the 

 young one then ventured into the water, but failing in its attempt to mount the banks 

 of the island, it soon returned to the shore, with piteous cries for its parents. It is 

 now a fine handsome bird, fully grown and fledged, but still remains attached to the 

 old gulls, and in a measure dependant upon them. — Communicated by J. G. Barclay; 

 Walthamstow, August 6, 1845. 



Eggs of the Flesh-fly deposited on a living Toad. I observed a toad, about a week 

 ago, in the evening after a shower of rain, crawling across a public road, which appa- 

 rently had a white mark or patch across its back. On examining it closely, I found 

 this occasioned by a large quantity of the eggs of one of the flesh-flies being deposited 

 on its back. Is this one of the means employed to keep these reptiles in check ? I 

 have never heard of it before. The toad seemed quite lively, and was in no way in- 

 jured. — Cfias. Charnock ; Holmejield House, near Ferry-bridge, July 10, 1845. 



